Description
The add_to_history function in svr_principal.c in libkadm5srv for MIT Kerberos 5 (krb5) up to 1.3.5, when performing a password change, does not properly track the password policy's history count and the maximum number of keys, which can cause an array index out-of-bounds error and may allow authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via a heap-based buffer overflow.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | krb5 | 1.3.6-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | krb5 | 1.3.6-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | krb5 | 1.3.6-1 | — |
| Debian 3.0 | krb5 | 1.2.4-5woody7 | DSA-629-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 4 | krb5 +4 | 1.3.4-10 | RHSA-2005:045 |
| RHEL 3 | krb5 +4 | 1.2.7-38 | RHSA-2005:012 |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2005:045 Red Hat Security Advisory: krb5 security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2005:012 Red Hat Security Advisory: krb5 security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-629-1 krb5 - buffer overflow Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- CLA-2005:917 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11911 vdb-entry signature
- kerberos-libkadm5srv-bo(18621) vdb-entry
- RHSA-2005:012 vendor-advisory
- APPLE-SA-2005-08-15 vendor-advisory
- 20050110 [USN-58-1] MIT Kerberos server vulnerability mailing-list
- http://web.mit.edu/kerberos/advisories/MITKRB5-SA-2004-004-pwhist.txt
- APPLE-SA-2005-08-17 vendor-advisory
- 2004-0069 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2005:045 vendor-advisory
- 20041220 MITKRB5-SA-2004-004: heap overflow in libkadm5srv mailing-list
- MDKSA-2004:156 vendor-advisory